2, 4b-dimethyl-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methallyl dodecahydrophenanthrene compounds and processes of preparing the same



Lewis H. Sarett, Princeton, N..l'., and William F. Johns, Morton Grove, llll., assignors to Merck & 130., Inc, Railway, N..l., a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Application January 8, 1957 Serial No. 632,985

4 Claims. (Cl. 260-3403) This invention relates to cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene compounds and processes of obtainin the same. More particularly, it is concerned with a novel process for converting polyhydrophenanthrene compounds to cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene compounds. Specifically, it is concerned with the preparation of dl-ll-keto progesterone and dl-ll-hydroxy progesterone and novel polyhydrophenanthrene compounds useful in preparing the same.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Serial No. 310,134, filed September 17, 1952, now Patent 2,786,064.

The preparation of steroid substances by total synthesis involving the formation of the four ring system, the introduction of angular methyl groups at positions and 13, and the placing of desired functional substituents in the ring system presents a formidable challenge. In addition to these difficulties, the problem is further complicated by the stereo-chernistry of steroidal substances. Thus, saturated steroids, with a minimum of six asymmetric centers, are capable of existing in at least sixty-four stereochemical modifications. However, in view of the therapeutic value and importance of steroids such as cortisone and the like, and the scarcity of raw materials suitable for use as starting materials in the preparation of cortisone and related compounds, efforts have been made to prepare these compounds by total synthesis.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new method for converting polyhydrophenanthrene compounds to 1,2-cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene compounds; thereby making possible the preparation of steroids by total synthesis.

Another object is to provide a novel process for the preparation of dl-ll-keto progesterone and dl-ll-hydroxy progesterone from functionally substituted dodecahydrophenanthrene compounds.

An additional object is to provide novel dodecahydrophenanthrene compounds which are useful as intermediates in the synthesis of dl-ll-keto progesterone and d1- ll-hydroxy progesterone.

Other objects will be apparent from the detailed description of our invention hereinafter provided.

In accordance with our invention, we have found that polyhydrophenanthrene compounds having in ring C a methallyl substituent at position 2 and a carboxymethyl or esterfied carboxymethyl substituent at position 1 can be treated to effect ring closure, thereby forming ring D of the steroid skeleton and providing a functional substituent at position 17. Our process for effecting this ring closure and the formation of a ZO-keto pregnane compound can be shown by the partial formulas as follows:

CH3 s GHg-J=OH2 --OHZC=CHZ -oH,GooR CH CH OH 2,893,999 Patented July 7, 1959 ice wherein R represents hydrogen, an alkyl radical, an aryl radical, or an aralkyl radical, andR represents an alkyl radical, an aryl radical or an aralkyl radical.

In accordance with the foregoing flow sheet, the starting polyhydrophenanthrene compound having a methallyl substituent at 0-2 and a carboxymethyl .or .esterified carboxymethyl substituent at 0-1 (I) is reacted with an alkali or an alkaline earth metal or an alkali or alkaline earth metal aluminum hydride to form the corresponding primary alcohol (11). This latter compound is then treated with an organic sulfonyl halide in the presence of a tertiary amine to form the sulfonic acid ester (III). In the next step of our process, thesulfonic acid ester is oxidized to convert the Z-methallyl substituent into an acetonyl substituent and form Compound IV. Upon intimately contacting Compound IV with an alkali, ring closure is effected to form the 20-keto-steroid compound (V).

Alternatively, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the order of carrying out these reactions can be varied. Thus, the oxidation of the methallyl substituent to form the acetonyl compound can be effected prior to the formation of the sulfonate derivative if desired. However, We have found that the sequence of the reactions shown previously is most satisfactory.

The processes described above can be used to convert saturated or unsaturated polyhydrophenanthrene compounds having in ring C the substituents depicted above to the corresponding steroid compounds. In'addition, the starting polyhydrophenanthrene compounds can also have other functional substituents such as keto groups or protected hydroxyl groups in rings A, B or C-of the'starting polyhydrophenanthrene compound. When this method is utilized in the preparation of a steroid having angular methyl groups at positions 10 and 13, polyhydrophenanthrenes having methyl substituents at positions 2 and 4b are employed as starting materials.

Thus, pursuant to a further embodiment of our invention, the above-described procedures may be utilized in the preparation of dl-ll-keto progesterone from 2,4bdimethyl 1 carboxymethyl 2 methallylfl-ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodeoahydrophenanthrene-4-ol, or the corresponding compound-having an esterfied carboxymethyl substituent in placeofthc carboxymethyl group. These reactions may be shown as follows:

OH: HO -CH:&=OH

OH1COOR 0 CH3- =CH CHIGHIOSOIRI O CH;COCH;

-CH|CH:OS0|R| i CH; 60 3 O (XIVA) OOOH;

wherein R represents: hydrogen, an alkyl radical, an aryl radical, or an aralkyl radical, and R represents an alkyl, aryl, or aralkyl, radical.

Thus, inaccordance with the-foregoingreactionscheme,

the starting compound, 2,4b-dimethyl-l- (carboxyrnethyl)- .Z-methallyl 7 ethylenedioxy-1 ,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,1,8,l0, 4

lOa-dodecahydrophenanthrenehol, or the corresponding compound; having an ester-lied carboxymethyl substituent (VI),v is firstreduced to form the corresponding primary ,carbinol (VII). This reduction is readilyefiected by intimately contacting Compound ,VI with an alkali or an alkali metal aluminum hydride or the free metal in a suitable inert reaction medium (inter alia dioxane, .tetra- -;hydropyran, tetrahydrofuran alower alkanol .and the like). -Forexample, the-reduction is conveniently carried out by. reacting Compound V1, with lithium aluminum hydride in tetrahydrofuran-at room temperature for suf- -ficient;time to complete the reaction. can be cflected inshorter timeby heating thereactants The reduction at temperatures up-to aboutl50 C. Afterthe reduction vyiththe-lithium aluminum hydrideis complete, the desired product isreadilyrecovered-by adding water to the reaction mixtureQiiltering, and evaporating the, filtrate .under ."diminished pressure.

As indicated above, dodecahydrophenanthrene compounds ,having either .a l-carboxymethyl substituent or an v'esteriiied carboxymethyl substituent canbe reduced in accordance with our processto obtain the. corresponding dodecahydrophenanthrene compound having at position 1 a 2-hydroxyethyl substituent. Lower alkyl esters .such as carbomethoxymethyl, carboethoxymethyl, ,and .carbopropoxymethyl which are readilypreparedare most conveniently reduced by our process.

Inthe second stepofour process, the I-(Z-hydroxyethyl.)-dedecahydrophenanthrene compound is converted to the corresponding sulfonic acid derivative (VIII) by reaction with an alkyl, aryl, or aralkyl sulfonyl-halide inthepresence of a tertiary amine. In carrying out this reactionwe usuallyprefer to form the'tosyl derivative by reacting 2,4b-dimethyl l (2-hydroxyethyl) 2 methallyl 7 ethylenedioxy-1,2,3,4,4a,4b, 5,6,7,8,10,la-dodec ahydrophenanthrenet-ol (VII) with para toluene sulfonyl chlorideinthe presence of pyridine since maximum yields of the tosyl derivative areusually obtained under ,optimum conditions. However, other sulfonyl halides suchas a methane sulfonyl halide, abenzene sulfonyl halide, and,t he like canbe used to obtain the correponding sulfonic acid derivatives. Similarly, other tertiary amines such as picoline, trimethyl amine, and the like are suitable reaction mediums for this condensation.

After the reaction is complete, the sulfonic acid ester-is readily recovered by diluting the reaction mixture with water and extracting the product from the aqueous solution with a water immisciblesolvent such as ether.

The hydroxyl substituent at C-4 of Compound VIII can, ifl desired, be oxidized atthispoint of the overall process to form the corresponding 1 l-keto compound (XII). We have found that this oxidation is readily effected .by reacting CompoundFVIIIgwith -achromi'c an- =hydride pyridine complex .in pyridine. The oxidized .product is recovered by diluting the reaction mixture with .water, extractingthe aqueoussolution with awater im- 6 as periodic acid, lead tetraacetate, and the like yields the ceton sq u A terna i y h r a o of the, acetonylsubstituted dodecahydrophenanthrene compoundis effected by intimately contacting Compounds VIII and XII with ozone, .and decomposing the resulting ozonide derivative with a suitable reducing agent to form Compounds IX and XIII, respectively.

Alternatively, as indicated above, Compound VII and the corresponding 4-keto compound can be oxidized to form the corresponding .acetonyl compounds which can then be reacted with the sul fonyl halide to obtain Compounds IX and XIII, respectively.

.Thering closure of Compounds IX and XIII to form ring D of the steroid compounds is brought about by intimately contacting thesecornpounds with a base, such as triethylarnine, an alkalimetal, an alkali metal alkoxide, .an alkali metal hydride, or an alkaline earth metal alkoxide (inter alia, sodium, potassium, sodium methoxide,

potassium tertiary butoxi'de, sodium isopropoxide, sodium hydride, and the like). The reaction is conveniently carried out in a suitable solvent medium such as a lower alkanol, benzene, toluene, ether or the like. Generally, we prefer to effect this ring closure by reacting Compound IX or Compound XIII with a sodium or potassium alkoxide in a lower alkanol, since these reactants are readily availableandtheir use results in good yields of the desired steroid compounds. ThuS,.t he ring closure is conveniently effected by reacting CompoundslX or XIII with sodium methoxide in methanolic solution at room temperature;for'sufiicient-time to complete the reaction. The

resulting. steroid-compound is -recovered by dilutingthe resultingreactionmixture with water, extractingthe desired, product with; awater immiscible solvent such as chlorof orm and concentratingthe-resulting extract under diminished pressure. The product so obtainedcan be fur- -ther purified, if desired, bychromatography over acid washed. alumina.

In this reactionfor .eifecting the.riug closure and the jormation of the;desir ed steroid compound,;the isopregnene compound (XA or XIV A) is apparently the initial product formed. These-isopregnene compounds can be readily epimerized'by further-treatment .with alkali to form the desired normal .pregnane compounds. This change may be visualized as taking place as .follows:

CH (1H J30 CO I I) D Iso form Normal form The pregnene Compounds XIVB and XB so obtained maybe hydrolyzed byreactioniwith acid to cleave the protecting ethylene'dioxysubstituent and regenerate the 3-keto substituent, therebyformin-gCompounds XV (dl-ll-keto progesterone) and XI (dl-ll-hydroxy progesterone), respectively, in which the double bond is shifted to the 4,5 position. Alternatively, as will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the .art, the-other intermediate products, namely, VII-XIVB, can be similarly hydrolyzed, for example, by reaction with hydrochloric acid, perchloric acid, p-toluene sulfonic acid and the like, to cleave the ethylenedioxy group and obtain the correspondingketo compound. Further,-Compound XI (dl-ll-hydroxy progesterone) can be converted by oxidation, for example,

by treatment With chromic oxide-pyridine complex, to

dl-ll-keto progesterone (XV).

Thenovel compoundsofsthe-present invention are use- -fulin the pharmaceutical fieldand serve as intermediates in the preperation of adrenal cortical hormones, such as 1l-dehydrocorticosterone (Kendalls CompoundA), cortisone, hydrocortisone, .and the like.

7 Thus, dl-l l-keto progesterone and the. .derivatives thereof are useful as 7 intermediates in the preparation of cortisone, and cortisone-like compounds. Similarly, dl-1 l-hydroxy progesterone and derivatives thereof can be utilized as intermediates in the preparation of cortisone, hydrocortisone, and other steroid compounds having cortisone-like activenedioxy, propylenedioxy and butylenedioxy derivatives are most suitable in carrying out the processes of our invention. However, in place of using a lower alkylenedioxy substituent to block or protect the keto substituent, we can use other derivatives readily hydrolyzable to keto, such as an enol ether monothioketal, or a dithioketal derivative for this purpose.

The examples which follow are presented to illustrate methods of carrying out our process.

EXAMPLE 1 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(Z-hydroxyethyl)-2-methallyl 7 ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,I0,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene i-ol (VII) A solution of 2.58 g. of the stereoisomen'c form of 2,4b-dimethyl 1 (1 carbomethoxymethyl) 2 methallyl 7 ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10adodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol, melting at 157-8 0., which may be prepared as described in copending application Serial No. 310,133, filed September 17, 1952, now abandoned, in 200 ml. absolute tetrahydrofuran was added to a solution of 0.80 mg. lithium aluminum hydride in 8 ml. tetrahydrofuran. The mixture was then stirred for 20 hours after which time the excess hydride was decomposed with water. The reaction mixture was then filtered, dried, and concentrated in vacuo to a crystalline residue of 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methallyl-7-ethy1- enedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol. The product was recrystallized from benzene and found to exist in two crystalline modifications, one melting at 200-1 C., and a second at 210-211 C.

A solution of 10 mg. of VII, M.P. 210-211 C. dissolved in 1 ml. of tetrahydrofuran and 0.5 ml. of 3 M perchloric acid solution was prepared and allowed to stand for 4 hours at room temperature. At the end of the 4 hour period the reaction mixture was neutralized with aqueous potassium bicarbonate solution. The product 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-hydroxyethy1)-2-methallyl-7-keto- 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,9,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4- ol, M.P. 153155 C. is obtained by extraction with chloroform, evaporation of the chloroform extracts, and crystallization of the resulting residue from ethyl acetate.

EXAMPLE 2 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(Z-hydroxyethyl) -2-methallyl-7-ethylenedioxy-I,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-0l VII) A solution of 2.54 g. of 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(l-carboxymethyl)-2-methallyl-7-ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7, 8,10,10a-dodecahydrophenanthrene 4 o1, melting point 250-1 C., which may be prepared as described in copending application Serial No. 310,133, filed September 17, 1952, in 0.50 l. absolute tetrahydrofuran was added to a refluxing solution of 2.5 g. lithium aluminum hydride in 25 ml. tetrahydrofuran. The solution was stirred at reflux temperature for 30 minutes. At the end of this time the reaction mixture was quenched with water, and the product isolated as described in Example 1.

8 EXAMPLE 3 2,4b-dimethyl-I -(2-t0syl0xyethyl) -2-methallyl-7-ethylenedioxy-LZ,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-0l (VIII) To'an anhydrous solution of 302 mg. of 2,4b-dimethyl- 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methallyl 7-ethylenedioxy-1,2,3,4, 4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a-dodecahydrophenanthrene 4 4 01 (VII) in pyridine was added 168 mg. of pure p-toluene sulfonyl chloride. The mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature for about 20 hours after which time the excess tosyl chloride was decomposed with a few drops of aqueous sodium bicarbonate. The solution was then diluted with water and extracted with ether. The organic extract was concentrated to dryness in vacuo. Pure 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-tosyloxyethyl) 2 methallyl 7- ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol (VIII), M.P. 157-8 C., was obtained from the crystalline residue by fractional crystallization from a mixture of benzene and petroleum ether.

In another experiment starting with 2.47 g. of Compound VII and 1.48 g. of p-toluene sulfonyl chloride, the reaction was successfully run with the temperature of the reaction mixture held at 0 C. for about 20 hours.

Upon hydrolysis of Compound VIII with acid the ethylenedioxy group is cleaved to obtain 2,4b-dimethyl- 1- (2-tosyloxyethyl) -2-methallyl-7-keto-1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7, 9,10,10a-dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol.

EXAMPLE 4 2,4b-dimethyI-1-(Z-Iosyloxyethyl)-2-methallyl-7-ethylenedioxy-1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-0ne (XII) 160 mg. of 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-tosy1oxyethyl)-2-methallyl-7-ethylenedioxy-1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol in 1 ml. of anhydrous pyridine was added to a solution of 160 mg. chromic anhydride in 1 ml. pyridine. The mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature for 16 hours after which time it was diluted with water and extracted with ether. The ether extract was washed with water, dried, and concentrated to dryness in vacuo. A solution of the crystalline residue in a mixture of benzene and petroleum ether was chromatographed over acid washed alumina. Elution with ether yielded pure 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-tosyloxyethy1)-2- methallyl 7 ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,l0adodecahydrophenanthrene-4-one, (XII), M.P. 156-8 C.

Upon hydrolyzing compound XII with an acid such as perchloric acid, the ethylenedioxy substituent is cleaved to obtain 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-tosyloxyethyl)-2-methallyl- 7 keto-1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,9,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-one.

EXAMPLE 5 2,4 b-dimethyl-I (2-tosyloxyethyl -2-acetonyl-7 ethylenedi0xy-1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,1 0a dodecahydrophenam threne-4-0ne (XIII) To 445 mg. 2,4b-dimethyl-l-(2-tosyloxyethyl)-2-methallyl-7-ethylenedioxy-1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-one dissolved in 5 ml. benzene was added 208 mg. osmium tetroxide. The solution was allowed to stand at room temperature for one hour. Seven ml. of ethyl alcohol and a solution of 0.7 g. sodium sulfite in 4 ml. water were then added and the solution shaken for twenty minutes. The upper organic layer was then decanted and filtered, while the lower layer was washed with ethyl alcohol. The alcohol was also filtered and combined with the upper organic layer. The benzenealcohol solution containing the desired product 'was then concentrated in vacuo to one-tenth the original volume. The concentrate was diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extract, after being washed and dried, was concentrated to dryness in vacuo to give 2,4bvdimethyl-1-(2-tosyloxyethyl)-2-(2,3-dihy- 9 droxy-2-me'thyl)propyl 7-ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6, 7,8,10,10a-dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-one as an amorphous solid.

This material was dissolved in,4 ml. methyl alcohol and 1 ml. pyridine, and to this solution was added 250 mg. of periodic acid in 0.5 ml. water. The mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes, diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The organic extract was washed, dried, and concentrated in vacuo to an oil. Chromatography over acid washed alumina and elution with. ether, yielded the desired product, 2,4bedimethyl-l-(2-tosyloxyethyl)-2 acetonyl-7-ethylenedioxy-l,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a-dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-one (XIII), M.P. 104-8 C. (d.).

The above osmylation reaction was also successfully carried out in a 9:1 benzene-tetrahydrofuran solution utilizing 7.84 g. of Compound XII and 4.8 g. osmium tetroxide.

When compound XIII is subjected to acid hydrolysis, for example, by treatment with perchloric acid, the ethylenedioxy substituent is cleaved and 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2- tosyloxyethyl)-2-acetonyl7-keto 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,9,10, 10a-dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-one is obtained.

EXAMPLE 6 A -3-ethylenedi0xy-11,20-diket0-1 7 isopregnene (XI VA) To a solution of 80 mg. of 2,4b-dimethyl-l-(Z-tosyloxyethyl)-2-acetonyl-7-ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7, 8,l0,la-dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-one in 1 ml. methyl alcohol was added 0.08 ml. of a 2 N solution of sodium methoxide in methyl alcohol. The solution was allowed to stand in a closed flask at room temperature for one hour after which time it was diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extract was washed, dried, and concentrated in vacuo. The crystalline residue so obtained was chromatographed on alumina. Elution with a mixture of ether-petroleum ether yielded A -3-ethylenedioxy-1 l,20-diketo-17-isopregnene (XIVA) M.P. 212-5" C., which on hydrolysis with acid yields A -3,l1,20-triketo-l7-isopregnene.

EXAMPLE 7 A -3-ethylenedi0xy-11 ,ZO-diketo-J 7-isopregnene (XI VA To a solution of 80 mg. of 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-tosyloxyethyl) 2 acetonyl 7 ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b, 5,6,7,8,10,10a-dodecahydrophenanthrenei-one in 1.5 ml. of benzene was added 0.15 ml. of a 1 M solution of potassium tertiary butoxide in tertiary butyl alcohol. This mixture was then stirred for 20 hours at room temperature. It was then diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extract was washed, dried, and concentrated under reduced pressure to produce a crystalline residue. The crystalline material was dissolved in a mixture of benzene and petroleum ether, chromatographed on acid washed alumina. From the ether-petroleum ether eluate was obtained crystalline A -3-ethylenedioxy-1 l,20-diket0-l7-isopregnene (XIVA) EXAMPLE 8 A -3-ezhylenedi0xy-1 1 ,ZO-dikeio-pregnene X 1 VB A solution of 165 mg. A -3-ethylenedioxy-11,20-diketo-l7-isopregnene in 5 ml. benzene and 2 ml. methyl alcohol was treated with 3 ml. 2 N methanolic sodium methoxide. The solution was allowed to stand at room temperature for 2 hours. It was diluted then with water, and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extract was washed, dried, and concentrated in vacuo, giving a crystalline residue which yielded, after chromatography in the manner previously described, A -3-ethylenedioxy- 11,20-diketo-pregnene (XIVB), M.P. l8l.0-182.5 C.

The above epimen'zation was also carried out using potassium carbonate in place of sodium methoxide.

When A -3-ethylenedioxy-1 1,20-diketo-pregnene is subjected to acid hydrolysis by treatment with an acid such as perchloric acid, the ethylenedioxy substituent is cleaved and dl-ll-keto progesterone (XV) (A -3,ll, 20- triketo pregnane), is obtained.

EXAMPLE 9 2,4 dim ezhyl 1 (2 tosyloxyethyl) 2 acetonyl- 7 ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,1011 .dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-0l ,(l'X) To 910 mg. of 2,4b-dimethy1-1-(2-tosyloxyethyl)-2- methallyl -7- ethylenedioxy l,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10adodecal1ydrophenanthrene-4-ol dissolved in 9 ml. of benzene and 2 ml. of tetrahydrofuran was added 545 mg. osmium tetraoxide. The solution was allowed to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes after which time 12 ml. of ethanol and a solution of 1.2 g. sodium sulfite in 7 ml. of Water were added. The solution was then shaken for 25 minutes and the product, 2,4-b-dimethyl- 1 (2 tosyloxyethyl) 2 (2,3 -dihydroxy 2 methyl)- propyl 7 ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10adodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol recovered in the same manner as described in Example 5 for the corresponding 4-keto compound.

0.84 gram of 2,4b-dimethyl 1 (2 tosyloxyethyl)-2- (2,3 dihydroxy 2 methyl) propyl 7 ethylenedioxyl,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene- 4-ol, dissolved in 8 ml. methanol and 2.2 ml. pyridine, was mixed with a solution of .61 g. periodic acid in 1.5 ml. of water. The mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes, water added and the mixture extracted with chloroform. On removal of the chloroform there was obtained a residue containing 2,4b-dimethyl 1 (2 tosyloxyethyl) 2 acetonyl 7 -ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol.

EXAMPLE 10 A 3 ethylenedioxy 11 hydroxy 20 keto pregnene and A 3 ethylenedioxy 1] hydroxy 20 keroisopregnene A solution of 760 mg. of 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(Z-tosyloxyethyl) 2 acetonyl 7 ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b, 5,6,7,8,l0,10a-dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol in 5 ml. of methanol and .80 m1. of a solution of 2 N sodium methoxide in methanol was allowed to stand for 20 hours at room temperature. The resulting mixture was diluted with Water, extracted with chloroform and the chloroform solution dried. After removal of the chloroform by distillation under reduced pressure, there was obtained a mixture of A -3-ethylenedioxy-1l-hydroxy-ZO-keto pregnene (XA) and A -3-ethylenedioxy-1l-hydroxy-ZO-ketoisopregnene (XB), M.P. l8293 C.

The mixture of A -3-ethylenedioxy-l1-hydroxy-20-keto pregnene (XA) and A -3-ethylenedioxy-ll-hydroxy-ZO- keto-isopregnene (XB) of M.P. 182-193 C., was dissolved in acetone, a small amount of p-toluene sulfonic acid added and the solution heated at reflux temperature for 20 minutes. The product was recovered by adding water to the reaction mixture, extracting with chloroform, Washing the chloroform extract with water, drying the extract and evaporating to dryness. The resulting solid was crystallized from ethyl acetate to give a crystalline product, M.P. -200 C. which is a mixture of A -3,20- diketo-ll-hydroxy-pregnene (XI), (dl-ll-hydroxy progesterone), and A -3,20-diketo-1l-hydroxy-isopregnene.

Various changes and modifications may be made in carrying out the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Insofar as these changes and modifications are within the purview of the an- 11 12 nexed claims, they are to be considered as part of our 4. A dodecahydrophenanthrene compound from the invention. group consisting of a compound of the formula:

What is claimed is: 7 CH; CH; 1. 2,4b dimethyl 1 (2 hydroxyethyl) 2 meth- H0 -oH, :=cH, allyl 7 ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a- 5 OH dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol. -0H,GH,0H

2. 2,4b dimethyl 1 (2 hydroxyethyl) 2 methallyl 7 keto 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,9,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol. 10

dlmethyl 1 (2 hydroxyethyl) 2 math and the 7-1ower alkylenedioxy ketals thereof. allyl 7 keto 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,9,10,10a dodcca- References Cited in the file of this tent hydrophenanthrene-4-one. pa

Sarett et aL: J.A.C.S., vol. 74, pp. 4974-76 (1952). 

1. 2,4B- DIMETHYL - 1 - (2 - HYDOXYETHYL) - 2 - METHALLYL - 7 - EHTYLENEDIOXY - 1,2,3,4,4A, 4B, 5,6,7,8,10,10ADODECAHYDROPHENANTHRENE-4-OL.
 4. A DODECAHYDROPHENANTHRENE COMPOUND FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF A COMPOUND OF ATHE FORMULA: 